[Role of lipid rafts in hepatitis C virus life cycle]

Abstract

Although the mechanism of HCV RNA replication is still poorly characterized, we know that HCV active replication complex contains membrane structures. Biochemical analysis showed that these membrane structures were resistant to nonionic detergents at low temperature and contained caveolin-2, characteristic of lipid rafts. Further analysis suggested that lipid rafts protect HCV replication complex against degradation. Lipid rafts provide also a mechanism of how HCV may modulate cellular processes, what can lead to disruption of antiviral immune response and then to chronic infection. Association hepatitis C virus with lipid rafts can be also a source of new antiviral therapies.